Porfidio Raymond Delgado

Porfidio “Raymond” Delgado, 80, of Topeka, passed away on November 3, 2023, in his apartment at Lexington Park Assisted Living.

He was born November 2, 1943, in Topeka to Homer Porfidio Delgado and Aurora (Pimentel) Delgado. Raymond attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic school. He graduated from Hayden High School in 1962, where he was involved in various activities including track and started as a guard on the basketball team. He later attended Washburn University.

Raymond proudly served in the United States Navy and Kansas National Guard. Over the years he worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber as a Customer Relations Representative and El Centro as an Administrative Assistant and then Assistant Director where he met his mentor Father Ramon Gaitan. He also worked at the Kansas National Guard as a Military Personnel Technician (CW4 Chief Warrant Officer) and then as an Employee Development Specialist in HR, retiring in 2003. In 2005 Raymond experienced God’s calling to pursue becoming a Deacon in the Catholic Church, applied to the Deaconate Program and graduated in April of 2011. He went on serve as a Deacon at his home parish Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

While accomplishing these things Raymond encapsulated a spirit of joy and love of life, neighbor, and most of all, God. His smile, good humor, willingness to help, homilies, and steadfast dedication is an inspiration to all. Family was very important to Raymond. He enjoyed getting together with his beloved sisters to chat, eat a good meal, or help out where he could. Spending time with them was very important to him, as was visiting with nieces, nephews, god children, aunts, and uncles.

Raymond was an involved member of his church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, including in the parish council, as a Mexican Fiesta Chairman, Finance Committee member, Lecturer, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and in the Cursillo Movement. He also carried on his parents’ prison ministry and was a Knights of Columbus member.

Raymond was devoted to his wife, Lola, when she was alive. He cherished their time together watching TV, going to movies, concerts, trips, church, family activities, and going out to eat. He was a loving and supportive father, father-in-law, and grandfather to Sheri, Matt, Ian, and Shawn. In the past Lola and Raymond attended Ian’s and Shawn’s activities including school programs and parties, scouts, and sports games. In recent years Raymond enjoyed attending Shawn’s basketball games, eating out at his favorite restaurant, visits from family and friends, going to church, bingo, and seeing Jax and Bri, his canine buddies. His rich and lively stories will always be remembered, including the ones about his Grandma Lorenza, playing basketball in the Navy, jogging on his lunch hour at the National Guard Armory, and not wanting to go to a high school dance but changed his mind and went and met his future wife, Lola.

Survivors include his daughter, Sheri and husband Matt Preston of Topeka; grandsons, Ian and Shawn Preston of Topeka; sisters, Anna Marie Alcala and husband David of Topeka, Monica Ramirez and husband Marcus of Topeka, and Mary Ann Pickering and husband Bill of Topeka; brother-in-law, Domingo Castardo of Topeka; and niece, Cathy Campion of Topeka.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Richard and Daniel Delgado.

The family will receive friends from 4:00-8:00pm Wednesday, November 8, at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home. A 4^th Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice Ceremony and Rosary will be held at 7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30am Thursday, November 9, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, with interment following at Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church or the Alzheimer’s Association, sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6^th Ave. Topeka, KS 66603.